Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-219206

The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion. Dated September 14, 2018.

The notes do not bear interest. The amount that you will be paid on your notes on the stated maturity date (expected to be the third scheduled business day after the determination date) is based on the performance of the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 as measured from the trade date to and including the determination date (expected to be 36 months after the trade date).

The return on your notes is linked to the performance of the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 (ETF), and not to that of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® (underlying index) on which the ETF is based. The performance of the ETF may significantly diverge from that of the underlying index.

If the final ETF level on the determination date is greater than the initial ETF level (set on the trade date), the return on your notes will be positive and will equal 1.5 times the ETF return, subject to the maximum settlement amount of $1,348 for each $1,000 face amount of your notes. If the final ETF level declines by up to 20% from the initial ETF level, you will receive the face amount of your notes.

If the final ETF level declines by more than 20% from the initial ETF level, the return on your notes will be negative and you will lose 1.25% of the face amount of your notes for every 1% that the final ETF level has declined below 80% of the initial ETF level. See page PS-6. You could lose a significant portion of the face amount of your notes.

To determine your payment at maturity, we will calculate the ETF return, which is the percentage increase or decrease in the final ETF level from the initial ETF level. At maturity, for each $1,000 face amount of your notes, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:

You should read the disclosure herein to better understand the terms and risks of your investment, including the credit risk of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. See page PS-13.

The estimated value of your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date is expected to be between $960 and $990 per $1,000 face amount. For a discussion of the estimated value and the price at which Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC would initially buy or sell your notes, if it makes a market in the notes, see the following page.

*See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest” on page PS-32 for additional information regarding the fees comprising the underwriting discount.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The notes are not bank deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Pricing Supplement No.        dated                 , 2018.

The issue price, underwriting discount and net proceeds listed above relate to the notes we sell initially. We may decide to sell additional notes after the date of this pricing supplement, at issue prices and with underwriting discounts and net proceeds that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether positive or negative) on your investment in notes will depend in part on the issue price you pay for such notes.

GS Finance Corp. may use this prospectus in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any other affiliate of GS Finance Corp. may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction in a note after its initial sale. Unless GS Finance Corp. or its agent informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this prospectus is being used in a market-making transaction.

PS-2

You should be willing to forgo:

Your maximum return on your notes will not be greater than 34.8%, and you could lose all or a portion of your investment if the underlier return is less than -20%.

At maturity, for each $1,000 face amount, the investor will receive (in each case as a percentage of the face amount):

If the final underlier level declines by more than 20% from the initial underlier level, the return on the notes will be negative and the investor could lose their entire investment in the notes.

PS-3

Please read the section entitled “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes” of this pricing supplement as well as the risks and considerations described in the accompanying prospectus dated July 10, 2017, in the accompanying prospectus supplement dated July 10, 2017, under “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Underlier-Linked Notes” in the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738 dated July 10, 2017, and under “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,734 dated July 10, 2017.

PS-4

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(Terms From Pricing Supplement No.            Incorporated Into Master Note No. 2)

CUSIP / ISIN: 40055QZD7 / US40055QZD77

Company (Issuer): GS Finance Corp.

Guarantor: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Underlier: the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 (current Bloomberg symbol: “QQQ UW”), or any successor underlier, as it may be modified, replaced or adjusted from time to time as provided herein

Underlying index: the NASDAQ-100^® Index

Face amount: $        in the aggregate on the original issue date; the aggregate face amount may be increased if the company, at its sole option, decides to sell an additional amount on a date subsequent to the trade date.

Authorized denominations: $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof

Principal amount: On the stated maturity date, the company will pay, for each $1,000 of the outstanding face amount, an amount, if any, in cash equal to the cash settlement amount.

Cash settlement amount:

Initial underlier level (set on the trade date):

Final underlier level: the closing level of the underlier on the determination date, subject to adjustment as provided in “— Consequences of a market disruption event or non-trading day” and “— Discontinuance or modification of the underlier” below

Cap level: 123.2% of the initial underlier level

Maximum settlement amount: $1,348

Upside participation rate: 150%

Underlier return: the quotient of (1) the final underlier level minus the initial underlier level divided by (2) the initial underlier level, expressed as a percentage

Buffer level: 80% of the initial underlier level

Buffer rate: the quotient of the initial underlier level divided by the buffer level, which equals 125%

Buffer amount: 20%

Trade date (set on the trade date):

Original issue date (set on the trade date): the third scheduled business day following the trade date

Determination date (set on the trade date): a specified date that is expected to be 36 months following the trade date, unless the calculation agent determines that a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on such day or

PS-5

such day is not a trading day. In that event, the determination date will be the first following trading day on which the calculation agent determines that a market disruption event does not occur and is not continuing. However, the determination date will not be postponed to a date later than the originally scheduled stated maturity date or, if the originally scheduled stated maturity date is not a business day, later than the first business day after the originally scheduled stated maturity date. If a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on the day that is the last possible determination date or such last possible day is not a trading day, that day will nevertheless be the determination date.

Stated maturity date (set on the trade date): a specified date that is expected to be the third scheduled business day following the determination date, unless that day is not a business day, in which case the stated maturity date will be postponed to the next following business day. The stated maturity date will also be postponed if the determination date is postponed as described under “— Determination date” above. In such a case, the stated maturity date will be postponed by the same number of business day(s) from but excluding the originally scheduled determination date to and including the actual determination date.

Closing level: for any given trading day, the closing sale price or last reported sale price, regular way, for the underlier, on a per-share or other unit basis:

If the underlier is not listed or traded as described above, then the closing level for the underlier on any day will be the average, as determined by the calculation agent, of the bid prices for the underlier obtained from as many dealers in the underlier selected by the calculation agent as will make those bid prices available to the calculation agent. The number of dealers need not exceed three and may include the calculation agent or any of its or the company’s affiliates.

The closing level is subject to adjustment as described under “— Anti-dilution adjustments” below.

Trading day: a day on which (i) the exchange on which the underlier has its primary listing is open for trading and (ii) the price of one share of the underlier is quoted by the exchange on which such underlier has its primary listing

Successor underlier: any substitute underlier approved by the calculation agent as a successor underlier as provided under “— Discontinuance or modification of the underlier” below

Underlier investment advisor: at any time, the person or entity, including any successor investment advisor or trustee, as applicable, that manages the underlier as then in effect

Underlier stocks: at any time, the stocks that comprise the underlier as then in effect, after giving effect to any additions, deletions or substitutions

Market disruption event: With respect to any given trading day, any of the following will be a market disruption event with respect to the underlier:

and, in the case of any of these events, the calculation agent determines in its sole discretion that the event could materially interfere with the ability of the company or any of its affiliates or a similarly situated person to unwind all or a material portion of a hedge that could be effected with respect to this note.

The following events will not be market disruption events:

PS-6

For this purpose, an “absence of trading” in the primary securities market on which shares of the underlier are traded, or on which option or futures contracts, if available, relating to the underlier are traded, will not include any time when that market is itself closed for trading under ordinary circumstances. In contrast, a suspension or limitation of trading in shares of the underlier or in option or futures contracts, if available, relating to the underlier in the primary market for the underlier or those contracts, by reason of:

will constitute a suspension or material limitation of trading in shares of the underlier or those contracts in that market.

Consequences of a market disruption event or a non-trading day: If a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on a day that would otherwise be the determination date or such day is not a trading day, then the determination date will be postponed as described under “— Determination date” above.

If the calculation agent determines that the closing level of the underlier that must be used to determine the cash settlement amount is not available on the postponed determination date because of a market disruption event, a non-trading day or for any other reason (except as described under “— Discontinuance or modification of the underlier” below), the calculation agent will nevertheless determine the closing level of the underlier based on its assessment, made in its sole discretion, of the level of the underlier on that day.

Discontinuance or modification of the underlier: If the underlier is delisted from the exchange on which the underlier has its primary listing and the underlier investment advisor or anyone else publishes a substitute underlier that the calculation agent determines is comparable to the underlier and approves as a successor underlier, or if the calculation agent designates a substitute underlier, then the calculation agent will determine the amount payable on the stated maturity date by reference to such successor underlier.

If the calculation agent determines that the underlier is delisted or withdrawn from the exchange on which the underlier has its primary listing and there is no successor underlier, the calculation agent will determine the amount payable on the stated maturity date by a computation methodology that the calculation agent determines will as closely as reasonably possible replicate the underlier.

If the calculation agent determines that the underlier, the underlier stocks or the method of calculating the underlier is changed at any time in any respect — including any split or reverse split of the underlier, a material change in the investment objective of the underlier and any addition, deletion or substitution and any reweighting or rebalancing of the underlier and whether the change is made by the underlier investment advisor under its existing policies or following a modification of those policies, is due to the publication of a successor underlier, is due to events affecting one or more of the underlier stocks or their issuers or is due to any other reason — then the calculation agent will be permitted (but not required) to make such adjustments in the underlier or the method of its calculation as it believes are appropriate to ensure that the final underlier level, used to determine the amount payable on the stated maturity date, is equitable.

All determinations and adjustments to be made by the calculation agent with respect to the underlier may be made by the calculation agent in its sole discretion. The calculation agent is not obligated to make any such adjustments.

Anti-dilution adjustments: The calculation agent will have discretion to adjust the closing level of the underlier if certain events occur (including those described above under “— Discontinuance or modification of the underlier”). In the event that any event other than a delisting or withdrawal from the relevant exchange occurs, the calculation agent shall determine whether and to what extent an adjustment should be made to the level of the underlier or any other term. The calculation agent shall have no obligation to make an adjustment for any such event.

Calculation agent: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“GS&Co.”)

Tax characterization: The holder, on behalf of itself and any other person having a beneficial interest in this note, hereby agrees with the company (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to characterize this note for all U.S. federal income tax purposes as a pre-paid derivative contract in respect of the underlier.

Overdue principal rate: the effective Federal Funds rate

PS-7

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES

The following table and chart are provided for purposes of illustration only. They should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future investment results and merely are intended to illustrate the impact that the various hypothetical underlier levels on the determination date could have on the cash settlement amount at maturity assuming all other variables remain constant.

The examples below are based on a range of final underlier levels that are entirely hypothetical; the underlier level on any day throughout the life of the notes, including the final underlier level on the determination date, cannot be predicted. The underlier has been highly volatile in the past — meaning that the underlier level has changed considerably in relatively short periods — and its performance cannot be predicted for any future period.

The information in the following examples reflects hypothetical rates of return on the offered notes assuming that they are purchased on the original issue date at the face amount and held to the stated maturity date. If you sell your notes in a secondary market prior to the stated maturity date, your return will depend upon the market value of your notes at the time of sale, which may be affected by a number of factors that are not reflected in the table below, such as interest rates, the volatility of the underlier, the creditworthiness of GS Finance Corp., as issuer, and the creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor. In addition, the estimated value of your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date (as determined by reference to pricing models used by GS&Co.) is less than the original issue price of your notes. For more information on the estimated value of your notes, see “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes — The Estimated Value of Your Notes At the Time the Terms of Your Notes Are Set On the Trade Date (as Determined By Reference to Pricing Models Used By GS&Co.) Is Less Than the Original Issue Price Of Your Notes” on page PS-14 of this pricing supplement. The information in the table also reflects the key terms and assumptions in the box below.

Moreover, we have not yet set the initial underlier level that will serve as the baseline for determining the underlier return and the amount that we will pay on your notes, if any, at maturity. We will not do so until the trade date. As a result, the actual initial underlier level may differ substantially from the underlier level prior to the trade date.

For these reasons, the actual performance of the underlier over the life of your notes, as well as the amount payable at maturity, if any, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical underlier levels shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the historical levels of the underlier during recent periods, see “The Underlier — Historical Closing Levels of the Underlier” below. Before investing in the offered notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the levels of the underlier between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of your purchase of the offered notes.

Also, the hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the effects of applicable taxes. Because of the U.S. tax treatment applicable to your notes, tax liabilities could affect the after-tax rate of return on your notes to a comparatively greater extent than the after-tax return on the underlier stocks.

The levels in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical final underlier levels and are expressed as percentages of the initial underlier level. The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical cash settlement amounts, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level, and are expressed as percentages of the face amount of a note (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of a percent). Thus, a hypothetical cash settlement amount of 100.000% means that the value of the cash payment that we would deliver for each $1,000 of the outstanding face amount of the offered notes on the stated maturity date would equal

PS-8

100.000% of the face amount of a note, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level and the assumptions noted above.

PS-9

If, for example, the final underlier level were determined to be 25.000% of the initial underlier level, the cash settlement amount that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be 31.250% of the face amount of your notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you purchased your notes on the original issue date at the face amount and held them to the stated maturity date, you would lose 68.750% of your investment (if you purchased your notes at a premium to face amount you would lose a correspondingly higher percentage of your investment). If the final underlier level were determined to be 0.000% of the initial underlier level, you would lose your entire investment in the notes. In addition, if the final underlier level were determined to be 200.000% of the initial underlier level, the cash settlement amount that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be capped at the maximum settlement amount, or 134.800% of each $1,000 face amount of your notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you held your notes to the stated maturity date, you would not benefit from any increase in the final underlier level over 123.200% of the initial underlier level.

The following chart shows a graphical illustration of the hypothetical cash settlement amounts that we would pay on your notes on the stated maturity date, if the final underlier level were any of the hypothetical levels shown on the horizontal axis. The hypothetical cash settlement amounts in the chart are expressed as percentages of the face amount of your notes and the hypothetical final underlier levels are expressed as percentages of the initial underlier level. The chart shows that any hypothetical final underlier level of less than 80.000% (the section left of the 80.000% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a hypothetical cash settlement amount of less than 100.000% of the face amount of your notes (the section below the 100.000% marker on the vertical axis) and, accordingly, in a loss of principal to the holder of the notes. The chart also shows that any hypothetical final underlier level of greater than or equal to 123.200% (the section right of the 123.200% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a capped return on your investment.

PS-10

The cash settlement amounts shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on market prices for the underlier stocks that may not be achieved on the determination date and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your notes on the stated maturity date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical cash settlement amounts shown above, and these amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the offered notes. The hypothetical cash settlement amounts on notes held to the stated maturity date in the examples above assume you purchased your notes at their face amount and have not been adjusted to reflect the actual issue price you pay for your notes. The return on your investment (whether positive or negative) in your notes will be affected by the amount you pay for your notes. If you purchase your notes for a price other than the face amount, the return on your investment will differ from, and may be significantly lower than, the hypothetical returns suggested by the above examples. Please read “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Underlier-Linked Notes — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” on page S-32 of the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738.

Payments on the notes are economically equivalent to the amounts that would be paid on a combination of other instruments. For example, payments on the notes are economically equivalent to a combination of an interest-bearing bond bought by the holder and one or more options entered into between the holder and us (with one or more implicit option premiums paid over time). The discussion in this paragraph does not modify or affect the terms of the notes or the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes, as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement.

PS-11

PS-12

ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS SPECIFIC TO YOUR NOTES

The Estimated Value of Your Notes At the Time the Terms of Your Notes Are Set On the Trade Date (as Determined By Reference to Pricing Models Used By GS&Co.) Is Less Than the Original Issue Price Of Your Notes

The original issue price for your notes exceeds the estimated value of your notes as of the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date, as determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models and taking into account our credit spreads. Such estimated value on the trade date is set forth above under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”; after the trade date, the estimated value as determined by reference to these models will be affected by changes in market conditions, the creditworthiness of GS Finance Corp., as issuer, the creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and other relevant factors. The price at which GS&Co. would initially buy or sell your notes (if GS&Co. makes a market, which it is not obligated to do), and the value that GS&Co. will initially use for account statements and otherwise, also exceeds the estimated value of your notes as determined by reference to these models. As agreed by GS&Co. and the distribution participants, this excess (i.e., the additional amount described under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”) will decline to zero on a straight line basis over the period from the date hereof through the applicable date set forth above under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”. Thereafter, if GS&Co. buys or sells your notes it will do so at prices that reflect the estimated value determined by reference to such pricing models at that time. The price at which GS&Co. will buy or sell your notes at any time also will reflect its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes.

In estimating the value of your notes as of the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date, as disclosed above under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”, GS&Co.’s pricing models consider certain variables, including principally our credit spreads, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), volatility, price-sensitivity analysis and the time to maturity of the notes. These pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold your notes in the secondary market, if any, to others may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated value of your notes determined by reference to our models due to, among other things, any differences in pricing models or assumptions used by others. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Underlier-Linked Notes — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” on page S-32 of the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738.

The difference between the estimated value of your notes as of the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date and the original issue price is a result of certain factors, including principally the underwriting discount and commissions, the expenses incurred in creating, documenting and marketing the notes, and an estimate of the difference between the amounts we pay to GS&Co. and the amounts GS&Co. pays to us in connection with your notes. We pay to GS&Co. amounts based on what we would pay to holders of a non-structured note with a similar maturity. In return for such payment, GS&Co. pays to us the amounts we owe under your notes.

In addition to the factors discussed above, the value and quoted price of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted. If GS&Co. makes a market in the notes, the price quoted by GS&Co. would reflect any changes in market conditions and other relevant factors, including any deterioration in our creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness or the creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. These changes may adversely affect the value of your notes, including the price you may receive for your notes in any market making transaction. To the extent that GS&Co. makes a market in the notes, the quoted price will reflect the estimated value determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models at that time, plus or minus its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes (and subject to the declining excess amount described above).

PS-13

Furthermore, if you sell your notes, you will likely be charged a commission for secondary market transactions, or the price will likely reflect a dealer discount. This commission or discount will further reduce the proceeds you would receive for your notes in a secondary market sale.

There is no assurance that GS&Co. or any other party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price and, in this regard, GS&Co. is not obligated to make a market in the notes. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Underlier-Linked Notes — Your Notes May Not Have an Active Trading Market” on page S-31 of the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738.

The Notes Are Subject to the Credit Risk of the Issuer and the Guarantor

Although the return on the notes will be based on the performance of the underlier, the payment of any amount due on the notes is subject to the credit risk of GS Finance Corp., as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. as guarantor of the notes. The notes are our unsecured obligations. Investors are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the notes, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Similarly, investors are dependent on the ability of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor of the notes, to pay all amounts due on the notes, and therefore are also subject to its credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of its creditworthiness. See “Description of the Notes We May Offer — Information About Our Medium-Term Notes, Series E Program — How the Notes Rank Against Other Debt” on page S-4 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer — Guarantee by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.” on page 42 of the accompanying prospectus.

The Amount Payable on Your Notes Is Not Linked to the Level of the Underlier at Any Time Other Than the Determination Date

The final underlier level will be based on the closing level of the underlier on the determination date (subject to adjustment as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement). Therefore, if the closing level of the underlier dropped precipitously on the determination date, the cash settlement amount for your notes may be significantly less than it would have been had the cash settlement amount been linked to the closing level of the underlier prior to such drop in the level of the underlier. Although the actual level of the underlier on the stated maturity date or at other times during the life of your notes may be higher than the final underlier level, you will not benefit from the closing level of the underlier at any time other than on the determination date.

You May Lose Your Entire Investment in the Notes

You can lose your entire investment in the notes. The cash payment on your notes, if any, on the stated maturity date will be based on the performance of the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 as measured from the initial underlier level set on the trade date to the closing level on the determination date. If the final underlier level is less than the buffer level, you will have a loss for each $1,000 of the face amount of your notes equal to the product of (i) the buffer rate times (ii) the sum of the underlier return plus the buffer amount times (iii) $1,000. Thus, you may lose your entire investment in the notes, which would include any premium to face amount you paid when you purchased the notes.

Also, the market price of your notes prior to the stated maturity date may be significantly lower than the purchase price you pay for your notes. Consequently, if you sell your notes before the stated maturity date, you may receive far less than the amount of your investment in the notes.

Your Notes Do Not Bear Interest

You will not receive any interest payments on your notes. As a result, even if the cash settlement amount payable for your notes on the stated maturity date exceeds the face amount of your notes, the overall return you earn on your notes may be less than you would have earned by investing in a non-indexed debt security of comparable maturity that bears interest at a prevailing market rate.

The Potential for the Value of Your Notes to Increase Will Be Limited

Your ability to participate in any change in the value of the underlier over the life of your notes will be limited because of the cap level. The maximum settlement amount will limit the cash settlement amount you may receive for each of your notes at maturity, no matter how much the level of the underlier may rise beyond the cap level over the life of your notes. Accordingly, the amount payable for each of your notes may be significantly less than it would have been had you invested directly in the underlier.

The Policies of the Underlier’s Trustee, the Bank of New York Mellon, and Nasdaq, Inc., the Sponsor of The Underlying Index, Could Affect the Amount Payable on Your Notes and Their Market Value

The underlier’s trustee, the Bank of New York Mellon (the “investment advisor”) may from time to time be called upon to make certain policy decisions or judgments with respect to the implementation of policies of the investment advisor concerning the calculation of the net asset value of the underlier, additions, deletions or substitutions of

PS-14

securities in the underlier and the manner in which changes affecting the underlying index are reflected in the underlier that could affect the market price of the shares of the underlier, and therefore, the amount payable on your notes on the maturity date. The amount payable on your notes and their market value could also be affected if the investment advisor changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the net asset value of the underlier, or if the investment advisor discontinues or suspends calculation or publication of the net asset value of the underlier, in which case it may become difficult or inappropriate to determine the market value of your notes.

If events such as these occur, the calculation agent — which initially will be GS&Co. — may determine the closing price of the underlier on the determination date — and thus the amount payable on the maturity date, if any — in a manner, in its sole discretion, it considers appropriate. We describe the discretion that the calculation agent will have in determining the closing underlier price on the determination date and the amount payable on your notes more fully under “Supplemental Terms of the Notes — Discontinuance or Modification of an Underlier” on page S-27 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,734.

In addition, Nasdaq, Inc. (the “underlying index sponsor”) owns the underlying index and is responsible for the design and maintenance of the underlying index. The policies of the underlying index sponsor concerning the calculation of the underlying index, including decisions regarding the addition, deletion or substitution of the equity securities included in the underlying index, could affect the level of the underlying index and, consequently, could affect the market prices of shares of the underlier and, therefore, the amount payable on your notes and their market value.

There Are Risks Associated with The Underlier

Although the underlier’s shares are listed for trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) and a number of similar products have been traded on NASDAQ or other securities exchanges for varying periods of time, there is no assurance that an active trading market will continue for the shares of the underlier or that there will be liquidity in the trading market.

In addition, the underlier is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the underlier investment advisor’s investment strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. The underlier is also not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in market segments relating to the underlying index. The underlier investment advisor invests in securities included in, or representative of, the underlying index regardless of their investment merits. The underlier investment advisor does not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.

In addition, the underlier is subject to custody risk, which refers to the risks in the process of clearing and settling trades and to the holding of securities by local banks, agent and depositories.

Further, under continuous listing standards adopted by NASDAQ, the underlier will be required to confirm on an ongoing basis that the components of the underlying index satisfy the applicable listing requirements. In the event that its underlying index does not comply with the applicable listing requirements, the underlier would be required to rectify such non-compliance by requesting that the underlying index sponsor modify such underlying index, adopting a new underlying index or obtaining relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that the underlying index sponsor would so modify the underlying index or that relief would be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, non-compliance with the continuous listing standards may result in the underlier being delisted by NASDAQ.

The Underlier and the Underlying Index are Different and the Performance of the Underlier May Not Correlate with the Performance of the Underlying Index

Although the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 generally invests in all of the securities included in its underlying index, the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 may not hold all or substantially all of the equity securities included in its underlying index and may hold securities or assets not included in its underlying index. For example, it is possible that the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 may not always fully replicate the performance of the underlying index due to unavailability of certain underlying index securities in the secondary market or due to other extraordinary circumstances (e.g., if trading in a security has been halted). Further, although the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 seeks to track the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible, the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1’s return may not match or achieve a high degree of correlation with the return of the underlying index due to, among other things, transaction costs.

PS-15

In addition, the performance of the underlier will reflect additional transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of the underlying index and this may increase the tracking error of the underlier. Also, corporate actions with respect to the sample of equity securities (such as mergers and spin-offs) may impact the performance differential between the underlier and the underlying index. Finally, because the shares of the underlier are traded on NASDAQ and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market value of one share of the underlier may differ from the net asset value per share of the underlier.

For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the underlier may not correlate with the performance of the underlying index. Consequently, the return on the notes will not be the same as investing directly in the underlier or in the underlying index or in the underlier stocks or in the underlying index stocks, and will not be the same as investing in a debt security with a payment at maturity linked to the performance of the underlying index.

As Compared to Other Index Sponsors, Nasdaq, Inc. Retains Significant Control and Discretionary Decision-Making Over the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, Which May Have an Adverse Effect on the Level of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, on the Performance of the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 and on Your Notes

Pursuant to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® methodology, Nasdaq, Inc. retains the right, from time to time, to exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure NASDAQ-100 Index^® integrity, including, but not limited to, changes to quantitative inclusion criteria. Nasdaq, Inc. may also, due to special circumstances, apply discretionary adjustments to ensure and maintain quality of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. Although it is unclear how and to what extent this discretion could or would be exercised, it is possible that it could be exercised by Nasdaq, Inc. in a manner that materially and adversely affects the level of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and, consequently, the market prices of shares of the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1, which may therefore affect the return on your notes and their market value. Nasdaq, Inc. is not obligated to, and will not, take account of your interests in exercising the discretion described above.

Investment in the Offered Notes Is Subject to Risks Associated with Foreign Securities Markets

The value of your notes is linked to an underlier that holds, in part, stocks traded in one or more foreign securities markets. Investments linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks. Any foreign securities market may be less liquid, more volatile and affected by global or domestic market developments in a different way than are the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Both government intervention in a foreign securities market, either directly or indirectly, and cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in that market. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Further, foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.

The prices of securities in a foreign country are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors that are unique to such foreign country’s geographical region. These factors include: recent changes, or the possibility of future changes, in the applicable foreign government’s economic and fiscal policies; the possible implementation of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities; fluctuations, or the possibility of fluctuations, in currency exchange rates; and the possibility of outbreaks of hostility, political instability, natural disaster or adverse public health developments. The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union (popularly known as “Brexit”). The effect of Brexit is uncertain, and Brexit has and may continue to contribute to volatility in the prices of securities of companies located in Europe and currency exchange rates, including the valuation of the euro and British pound in particular. Any one of these factors, or the combination of more than one of these factors, could negatively affect such foreign securities market and the price of securities therein. Further, geographical regions may react to global factors in different ways, which may cause the prices of securities in a foreign securities market to fluctuate in a way that differs from those of securities in the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Foreign economies may also differ from the U.S. economy in important respects, including growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency, which may have a positive or negative effect on foreign securities prices.

The Return on Your Notes Will Not Reflect Any Dividends Paid on the Underlier or the Underlier Stocks

The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the ETF and received the distributions paid on the shares of the ETF. You will not receive any dividends that may be paid on any of the ETF stocks by the ETF stock issuers. See “ — You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Shares of the ETF or Any ETF Stock” below for additional information.

You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Shares of the Underlier or Any Underlier Stock

Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of the underlier or any underlier stocks. Neither you nor any other holder or owner of your notes will have any rights with respect to the underlier or underlier stocks,

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including any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions, any rights to make a claim against the underlier or the underlier stocks or any other rights of a holder of any shares of the underlier or the underlier stocks. Your notes will be paid in cash and you will have no right to receive delivery of any shares of any underlier or any underlier stocks.

We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Face Amount of the Notes at a Different Issue Price

At our sole option, we may decide to sell an additional aggregate face amount of the notes subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. The issue price of the notes in the subsequent sale may differ substantially (higher or lower) from the original issue price you paid as provided on the cover of this pricing supplement.

If You Purchase Your Notes at a Premium to Face Amount, the Return on Your Investment Will Be Lower Than the Return on Notes Purchased at Face Amount and the Impact of Certain Key Terms of the Notes Will Be Negatively Affected

The cash settlement amount will not be adjusted based on the issue price you pay for the notes. If you purchase notes at a price that differs from the face amount of the notes, then the return on your investment in such notes held to the stated maturity date will differ from, and may be substantially less than, the return on notes purchased at face amount. If you purchase your notes at a premium to face amount and hold them to the stated maturity date, the return on your investment in the notes will be lower than it would have been had you purchased the notes at face amount or a discount to face amount. In addition, the impact of the buffer level and the cap level on the return on your investment will depend upon the price you pay for your notes relative to face amount. For example, if you purchase your notes at a premium to face amount, the cap level will only permit a lower positive return in your investment in the notes than would have been the case for notes purchased at face amount or a discount to face amount. Similarly, the buffer level, while still providing some protection for the return on the notes, will allow a greater percentage decrease in your investment in the notes than would have been the case for notes purchased at face amount or a discount to face amount.

Your Notes May Be Subject to an Adverse Change in Tax Treatment in the Future

The tax consequences of an investment in your notes are uncertain, both as to the timing and character of any inclusion in income in respect of your notes.

The Internal Revenue Service announced on December 7, 2007 that it is considering issuing guidance regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of an instrument such as your notes, and any such guidance could adversely affect the tax treatment and the value of your notes. Among other things, the Internal Revenue Service may decide to require the holders to accrue ordinary income on a current basis and recognize ordinary income on payment at maturity, and could subject non-U.S. investors to withholding tax. Furthermore, in 2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if enacted, would have required holders that acquired instruments such as your notes after the bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of such instruments even though there will be no interest payments over the term of such instruments. It is not possible to predict whether a similar or identical bill will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your notes. We describe these developments in more detail under “Supplemental Discussion of Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page S-41 of the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738. You should consult your tax advisor about this matter. Except to the extent otherwise provided by law, GS Finance Corp. intends to continue treating the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described under “Supplemental Discussion of Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page S-41 of the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738 unless and until such time as Congress, the Treasury Department or the Internal Revenue Service determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.

United States Alien Holders Should Consider the Withholding Tax Implications of Owning the Notes

The Treasury Department has issued regulations under which amounts paid or deemed paid on certain financial instruments (“871(m) financial instruments”) that are treated as attributable to U.S.-source dividends could be treated, in whole or in part depending on the circumstances, as a “dividend equivalent” payment that is subject to tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate under an applicable treaty), which in the case of any amounts a United States alien holder receives upon the sale, exchange or maturity of the notes, could be collected via withholding. If these regulations were to apply to the notes, we may be required to withhold such taxes if any U.S.-source dividends are paid on the underlier during the term of the notes. We could also require a United States alien holder to make certifications (e.g., an applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8) prior to the maturity of the notes in order to avoid or minimize withholding obligations, and we could withhold accordingly (subject to the United States alien holder’s potential right to claim a refund from the Internal Revenue Service) if such certifications were not received or were not satisfactory. If withholding was required, we would not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so

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withheld. These regulations generally will apply to 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2019, but will also apply to certain 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) that have a delta (as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations) of one and are issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2017. In addition, these regulations will not apply to financial instruments that reference a “qualified index” (as defined in the regulations). We have determined that, as of the issue date of your notes, your notes will not be subject to withholding under these rules. In certain limited circumstances, however, you should be aware that it is possible for United States alien holders to be liable for tax under these rules with respect to a combination of transactions treated as having been entered into in connection with each other even when no withholding is required. You should consult your tax advisor concerning these regulations, subsequent official guidance and regarding any other possible alternative characterizations of your notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Your Notes May Be Subject to the Constructive Ownership Rules

There exists a risk that the constructive ownership rules of Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code could apply to your notes. If your notes were subject to the constructive ownership rules, then any long-term capital gain that you realize upon the sale, exchange or maturity of your notes would be re-characterized as ordinary income (and you would be subject to an interest charge on deferred tax liability with respect to such re-characterized capital gain) to the extent that such capital gain exceeds the amount of “net underlying long-term capital gain” (as defined in Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code). Because the application of the constructive ownership rules is unclear you are strongly urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the possible application of the constructive ownership rules to your investment in the notes.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding May Apply to Payments on Your Notes, Including as a Result of the Failure of the Bank or Broker Through Which You Hold the Notes to Provide Information to Tax Authorities

Please see the discussion under “United States Taxation — Taxation of Debt Securities — Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the applicability of FATCA to payments made on your notes.

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THE UNDERLIER

The Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1

The shares of the Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1 (the “shares”) are issued by Invesco QQQ Trust^SM (the “trust”), a unit investment trust that is a registered investment company.

We obtained the following fee information from the trust’s publicly available information without independent verification. The trustee is entitled to receive a fee for services performed for the trust corresponding to the net asset value of the trust, at an annual rate of 0.01% per annum for the first $499,999,999 of assets, 0.08% per annum for assets of $500,000,000 or more up to $2,499,999,999, 0.06% per annum for assets of $2,500,000,000 or more up to $24,999,999,999, 0.05% per annum for assets of $25,000,000,000 or more up to $49,999,999,999 and 0.04% per annum for assets of $50,000,000,000 or more. In addition, the trust pays a licensing fee to NASDAQ OMX to license the NASDAQ-100 Index^® for use in connection with the trust shares, which is not to exceed 0.09% of the trust’s net asset value. The trust also pays marketing fees to the trust sponsor in connection with marketing the trust’s shares. The trust sponsor has agreed that it will assume the trust’s annual operating expenses to the extent they exceed 0.20% per annum, although the sponsor can discontinue this agreement at any time. Transaction costs the trust incurs as a result of adjustments to the portfolio are not considered annual operating expenses. As of June 30, 2018, the trust’s total expense ratio is 0.20% per annum.

For additional information regarding the trust, please consult the reports (including the Semi-Annual Report of Registered Investment Companies on Form NSAR-U for the period year ended December 31, 2017) and other information the trust files with the SEC. Additional information regarding the trust, including its top portfolio holdings, may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles, other publicly available documents, and the Invesco website at invesco.com/portal/site/us/investors/etfs/product-detail?productId=QQQ. We are not incorporating by reference the website, the sources listed above or any material they include in this pricing supplement.

Investment Objective and Strategy

The trust seeks investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. The trust strives to achieve its investment objective by holding a portfolio of all of the common stocks that are included in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, with the weight of each stock in the trust’s portfolio substantially corresponding to the weight of such stock in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. The trust may also generally hold cash or cash items that will not consist of a substantial part of the trust’s net assets. Although the trust may fail to own certain securities included in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® at any particular time, the trust generally will be substantially invested in NASDAQ-100 Index^® securities and the trust intends for such investments to result in a close correspondence between the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the performance of the shares of the trust.

To maintain the correspondence between the composition and weightings of the common stocks that are actually held by the trust and the common stocks that are included in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, the trustee adjusts the trust portfolio from time to time to conform to periodic changes made by the NASDAQ-100 Index^® sponsor to the identity and/or relative weightings of the common stocks that are included in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. The trustee aggregates certain of these adjustments and makes changes to the trust’s portfolio at least monthly, or more frequently in the case of significant changes to the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. The trustee must adjust the portfolio within three business days if a constituent is added or removed from the NASDAQ-100 Index^® or the weighting of

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the stock in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the trust differ by more than 150% of specified misweighting tolerances that decrease as the net asset value of the trust increases. The trustee examines the weighting of the portfolio, and compares the weighting of each stock in the portfolio to its weight in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, on each business day. The trustee is permitted to, and does from time to time, sell portfolio securities in order to pay the trust’s expenses.

Notwithstanding the trust’s investment objective, the return on your notes will not reflect any dividends paid on the shares of the trust, on the securities purchased by the trust or on the securities that comprise the NASDAQ-100 Index^®.

The following table displays the top ten holdings and the weightings by industry sector of the trust. (Sector designations are determined by the trust sponsor using criteria it has selected or developed. Trust sponsors may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between trusts with different sponsors may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the trusts.) We obtained the information in the tables below from the trust website without independent verification.

Top Ten Holdings of the Trust as of September 12, 2018

Weighting by Sector of the Trust as of September 12, 2018*

                    * Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding

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Holdings With Weights Equal to or in Excess of 5% of the Trust as of September 12, 2018

Apple Inc., Amazon.com, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation are registered under the Exchange Act. Companies with stocks registered under the Exchange Act are required to file financial and other information specified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) periodically. Information filed with the SEC can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, information filed by these stock issuers with the SEC electronically can be reviewed through a web site maintained by the SEC. The address of the SEC’s web site is sec.gov. Information filed with the SEC by each of the above-referenced stock issuers under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing its SEC file number specified below.

The graphs below, except where otherwise indicated, show the daily historical closing prices of Apple Inc., Amazon.com, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation, the holdings of which each comprise more than 5% of the trust, from September 12, 2008 through September 12, 2018, adjusted for corporate events, if applicable. We obtained the prices in the graphs below using data from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification. We have taken the descriptions of the stock issuers set forth below from publicly available information without independent verification.

According to publicly available information, Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Information filed with the SEC by Apple Inc. under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing SEC file number 001-36743 for filings on or after November 12, 2014 and SEC file number 000-10030 for filings prior to November 12, 2014.

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According to publicly available information, Amazon.com, Inc. is an e-commerce company. Information filed with the SEC by Amazon.com, Inc. under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing SEC file number 000-22513.

According to publicly available information, Microsoft Corporation develops, licenses and supports software products, services and devices and designs and sells hardware devices. Information filed with the SEC by Microsoft Corporation under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing SEC file number 001-37845 for filings on or after July 26, 2016 and SEC file number 000-14278 for filings prior to July 26, 2016.

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Correlation

Although the trust intends to track the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® as closely as possible, the trust will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the index because the total return generated by the stocks held in the trust’s portfolio will be reduced by transaction costs incurred in adjusting the actual balance of the stocks and other trust expenses, whereas such transaction costs and expenses are not included in the calculation of the index. In addition, it is possible that the trust may not always fully replicate the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® due to unavailability of certain NASDAQ-100 Index^® securities in the secondary market or due to other extraordinary circumstances (e.g., if trading in a security has been halted).

For the period ended August 31, 2018, the Invesco website gave the following performance figures for market price of the shares of the trust and the index: trust shares— 1 year on an annualized basis, 28.98%; 3 years on an annualized basis, 22.53%, 5 years on an annualized basis, 21.19%, 10 years on an annualized basis, 16.12%, since inception on an annualized basis, 7.53%; index— 1 year on an annualized basis, 29.14%; 3 years on an annualized basis, 22.86%, 5 years on an annualized basis, 21.47%, 10 years on an annualized basis, 16.38%, since inception on an annualized basis, 7.77%.

Trust Structure and Termination

The trust is organized under New York law. Under an agency agreement with the trust sponsor, the sponsor performs certain functions for the trustee, including evaluation of the securities for purposes of calculating the net asset value and with respect to rebalancing and adjusting the trust’s portfolio. The trust has a finite lifetime and will terminate on the first to occur of March 4, 2124 or 20 years following the death of the last surviving member of a group of 15 named people, the oldest of which was born in 1986 and the youngest of which was born in 1996.

The NASDAQ-100 Index^®

The NASDAQ-100 Index^® includes 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial stocks listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. The NASDAQ-100 Index^® is calculated using a modified market capitalization-weighted methodology. The NASDAQ-100 Index^® is calculated, maintained and published by Nasdaq, Inc. The base date for the NASDAQ-100 Index^® is January 31, 1985, with a base value of 125.00, as adjusted. The total return version of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® was synchronized to the value of the price return version of the index at the close on March 4, 1999. We have derived all information contained in this document regarding the NASDAQ-100 Index^® from publicly available information. Additional information about the NASDAQ-100 Index^® is available on the following website: indexes.nasdaqomx.com/Index/Overview/NDX. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this pricing supplement.

As of September 12, 2018, the 103 stocks included in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® were classified into ten industry sectors (with the approximate percentage currently included in such sectors indicated in parentheses): Technology (55.21%), Consumer Services (24.66%), Health Care (9.05%), Consumer Goods (5.74%), Industrials (4.57%), Telecommunications (0.76%), Oil & Gas (0.00%), Basic Materials (0.00%), Utilities (0.00%) and Financials (0.00%). (Sector designations are determined by the index sponsor using criteria it has selected or developed. Index sponsors may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between indices with different index sponsors may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the indices.)

The top ten constituent stocks of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® as of September 12, 2018, by weight, are: Apple Inc. (12.58%), Amazon.com Inc. (11.18%), Microsoft Corporation (9.94%), Alphabet Inc. Class C (4.70%), Facebook Inc. (4.50%), Alphabet Inc. Class A (4.05%), Cisco Systems Inc. (2.55%), Intel Corporation (2.42%), Comcast Corporation (1.92%), NVIDIA Corporation (1.88%) and PepsiCo, Inc. (1.87%).

The trust tracks the performance of the total return version of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, which reinvests ordinary cash dividends on the ex-date. Notwithstanding the trust’s investment objective, the return on your notes will not reflect any dividends paid on the shares, on the securities purchased by the trust or on the securities that comprise the NASDAQ-100 Index^®.

Construction of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®

The NASDAQ-100 Index^® is a modified market capitalization-weighted index. Except under extraordinary circumstances that may result in an interim evaluation, NASDAQ-100 Index^® composition is reviewed on an annual basis in December. First, Nasdaq, Inc. determines which stocks meet the applicable eligibility criteria.

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Selection Criteria for Initial Inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®

To be eligible for initial inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, a stock must meet the following criteria:

Stock types generally eligible for inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® are common stocks, ordinary shares, ADRs and tracking stocks. Closed-end funds, convertible debentures, exchange traded funds, limited liability companies, limited partnership interests, preferred stocks, rights, shares or units of beneficial interest, warrants, units and other derivative stocks are not eligible for inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. For purposes of NASDAQ-100 Index^® eligibility criteria, if the stock is a depositary receipt representing a stock of a non-U.S. issuer, then references to the “issuer” are references to the issuer of the underlying stock. The NASDAQ-100 Index^® does not contain securities of investment companies.

Continued Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for continued inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock must meet the following criteria:

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All stocks meeting the above criteria will be considered eligible for inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. Those stocks which are found to meet the applicable eligibility criteria during the annual review are then ranked by market capitalization. While there is no minimum market capitalization requirement, inclusion will be determined based on the top 100 issuers with the largest market capitalization meeting all other eligibility requirements. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying a stock’s last sale price by its total number of shares outstanding. The last sale price refers to the price at which a stock last traded during regular market hours as reported on such stock’s index market, which may be the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (NOCP). The index market is the index eligible stock market for which the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock’s prices are received and used by Nasdaq, Inc. for purposes of calculating the NASDAQ-100 Index^®.

NASDAQ-100 Index^® eligible stocks which are already in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and whose issuer is ranked in the top 100 eligible companies based on market capitalization are retained in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. A NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock issuer ranking 101 to 125 based on market capitalization will also be retained for inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® if such issuer was previously ranked in the top 100 issuers as of the last annual ranking review or was added to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® subsequent to the previous ranking review and continues to meet all eligibility criteria. NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock issuers not meeting such criteria are replaced. The replacement stocks are those eligible stocks not currently in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® whose issuers have the next largest market capitalization.

The data used in the process of ranking by market capitalization includes end of October market data and is updated for total shares outstanding submitted in a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock issuer’s publicly filed SEC document via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) through the end of November. If a stock is a depositary receipt, the total shares outstanding is the actual depositary shares outstanding as reported by the depositary banks.

The final list of constituents included in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, including any replacements made during the annual review, is made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in December. Generally, the list of annual additions and deletions as a result of the annual review is publicly announced by Nasdaq, Inc. via a press release in the early part of December, in conjunction with an announcement on Nasdaq, Inc.’s website.

Calculation of the Total Return of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®

The discussion below describes the “total return” calculation of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. As compared to the price return version of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, the total return version of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® reinvests ordinary cash dividends on the ex-date while the price return version is ordinarily calculated without regard to cash dividends on the index stocks. However, all NASDAQ-100 Index^® calculations reflect extraordinary cash distributions and special dividends.

The NASDAQ-100 Index^® is a modified market capitalization-weighted index. The total return calculation begins with the price return calculation of the index. The value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® equals the NASDAQ-100 Index^® market value divided by the NASDAQ-100 Index^® divisor. The overall NASDAQ-100 Index^® market value is the aggregate of each NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock’s market value, as may be adjusted for any corporate actions. A NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock’s market value is determined by multiplying the last sale price by its index share weight, also known as “index shares”. Index shares are equal to the total number of shares outstanding for a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock. In other words, the value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® is equal to (i) the sum of the products of (a) the index shares of each of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stocks multiplied by (b) each such stock’s last sale price (adjusted for corporate actions, if any), divided by (ii) the divisor of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®.

The price return NASDAQ-100 Index^® divisor is calculated as the ratio of (i) the start of day market value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® divided by (ii) the previous day NASDAQ-100 Index^® value.

Once the price return index has been calculated, the total return index is calculated. First, the index dividend market value is calculated as the aggregate of, for each applicable stock with an ex-dividend date on such day, the product of (i) the dividends per share for the stock on such day times (ii) the index shares for such stock. Next, an index dividend points value is determined as the quotient of (i) the index dividend market value calculated for that day divided by (ii) the price return index divisor for such day. Finally, the total return index value is calculated as the product of (i) the closing value of the total return index on the previous day times (ii) the quotient of (a) the sum of the price return index value on such day plus the index dividend points value for such day divided by (b) the closing value of the price return index on the previous day.

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If trading in a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is halted on its primary listing market, the most recent last sale price for that stock is used for all NASDAQ-100 Index^® computations until trading on such market resumes. Similarly, the most recent last sale price is used if trading in a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is halted on its primary listing market before the market opens.

The NASDAQ-100 Index^® is calculated in U.S. dollars during the U.S. market trading day based on the last sale price and are disseminated once per second from 09:30:01 until 17:16:00 ET. The closing value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® may change up until 17:15:00 ET due to corrections to the last sale price of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stocks. The official closing value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® is ordinarily disseminated at 17:16:00 ET.

NASDAQ-100 Index^® Maintenance

Changes to NASDAQ-100 Index^® Constituents

Changes to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® constituents may be made during the annual ranking review. In addition, if at any time during the year other than the annual review, it is determined that a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock issuer no longer meets the criteria for continued inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, or is otherwise determined to have become ineligible for continued inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, it is replaced with the largest market capitalization issuer not currently in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® that meets the applicable eligibility criteria for initial inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®.

Ordinarily, a stock will be removed from the NASDAQ-100 Index^® at its last sale price. However, if at the time of its removal the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is halted from trading on its primary listing market and an official closing price cannot readily be determined, the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock may, in Nasdaq, Inc.s discretion, be removed at a price of $0.00000001 (“zero price”). This zero price will be applied to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock after the close of the market but prior to the time the official closing value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® is disseminated.

Divisor Adjustments

The divisor is adjusted to ensure that changes in NASDAQ-100 Index^® constituents either by corporate actions (that adjust either the price or shares of a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock) or NASDAQ-100 Index^® participation outside of trading hours do not affect the value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. All divisor changes occur after the close of the applicable index stock markets.

Quarterly NASDAQ-100 Index^® Rebalancing

On a quarterly basis coinciding with the quarterly scheduled index shares adjustment procedures, as discussed below, the NASDAQ-100 Index^® will be rebalanced if it is determined that (1) the current weight of the single NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock with the largest market capitalization is greater than 24.0% of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® or (2) the collective weight of those stocks whose individual current weights are in excess of 4.5% exceeds 48.0% of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. In addition, a “special rebalancing” of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® may be conducted at any time if Nasdaq, Inc. determines it necessary to maintain the integrity and continuity of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. If either one or both of the above weight distribution conditions are met upon quarterly review, or Nasdaq, Inc. determines that a special rebalancing is necessary, a weight rebalancing will be performed.

If the first weight distribution condition is met and the current weight of the single NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock with the largest market capitalization is greater than 24.0%, then the weights of all stocks with current weights greater than 1.0% (“large stocks”) will be scaled down proportionately toward 1.0% until the adjusted weight of the single largest NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock reaches 20.0%.

If the second weight distribution condition is met and the collective weight of those stocks whose individual current weights are in excess of 4.5% (or adjusted weights in accordance with the previous step, if applicable) exceeds 48.0% of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, then the weights of all such large stocks in that group will be scaled down proportionately toward 1.0% until their collective weight, so adjusted, is equal to 40.0%.

The aggregate weight reduction among the large stocks resulting from either or both of the rebalancing steps above will then be redistributed to those stocks with weightings of less than 1.0% (“small stocks”) in the following manner. In the first iteration, the weight of the largest small stock will be scaled upwards by a factor which sets it equal to the average NASDAQ-100 Index^® weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of the smaller remaining small stocks will be scaled up by the same factor reduced in relation to each stock’s relative ranking among the small stocks such that the smaller the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock in the ranking, the less its weight will be scaled upward. This is intended to reduce the market impact of the weight rebalancing on the smallest component stocks in the NASDAQ-100 Index^®.

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In the second iteration of the small stock rebalancing, the weight of the second largest small stock, already adjusted in the first iteration, will be scaled upwards by a factor which sets it equal to the average NASDAQ-100 Index^® weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of the smaller remaining small stocks will be scaled up by this same factor reduced in relation to each stock’s relative ranking among the small stocks such that, once again, the smaller the stock in the ranking, the less its weight will be scaled upward. Additional iterations will be performed until the accumulated increase in weight among the small stocks equals the aggregate weight reduction among the large stocks that resulted from the rebalancing in accordance with the two weight distribution conditions discussed above.

Finally, to complete the rebalancing process, once the final weighting percentages for each NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock have been set, the index share weights (or index shares) will be determined anew based upon the last sale prices and aggregate capitalization of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® at the close of trading on the last calendar day in February, May, August and November. Changes to the index shares will be made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in March, June, September and December, and an adjustment to the divisor is made to ensure continuity of the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. Ordinarily, new rebalanced index share weights will be determined by applying the above procedures to the current index share weights. However, Nasdaq, Inc. may, from time to time, determine rebalanced weights, if necessary, by applying the above procedure to the actual current market capitalization of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® components. In such instances, Nasdaq, Inc. would announce the different basis for rebalancing prior to its implementation.

During the quarterly rebalancing, data is cutoff as of the previous month end and no changes are made to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® from that cutoff until the quarterly index share change effective date, except in the case of changes due to corporate actions with an ex-date.

Corporate Actions and NASDAQ-100 Index^® Adjustments

Aside from changes resulting from quarterly rebalancing, intra-quarter changes in index shares driven by corporate events can also result from a change in a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock’s total shares outstanding that is greater than 10.0%. If a stock is a depositary receipt, the total shares outstanding is the actual depositary shares outstanding as reported by the depositary banks. Changes in the price and/or index shares driven by corporate events such as stock dividends, stock splits and certain spin-offs and rights issuances are adjusted on the ex-date. Changes in total shares outstanding are determined by a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock issuer’s public filings with the SEC. If the change in total shares outstanding arising from other corporate actions is greater than or equal to 10.0%, the change is made as soon as practicable. Otherwise, if the change in total shares outstanding is less than 10.0%, then all such changes are accumulated and made effective at one time on a quarterly basis after the close of trading on the third Friday in each of March, June, September and December. The index shares are derived from the stock’s total shares outstanding. The index shares are then adjusted by the same percentage amount by which the total shares outstanding have changed.

The following corporate actions will be made effective on the ex-date. If there is no ex-date announced by the index exchange, there will be no adjustment to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® as a result of a corporate action.

Stock Split and Stock Dividend. A stock split and stock dividend is the action of a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock in increasing its index shares and decreasing the par value proportionately. There is no flow of capital into or out of the company. The number of index shares in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® increases but the market capitalization of the stock remains unchanged. The price of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is adjusted to reflect the ratio of a stock split and stock dividend and a corresponding inverse adjustment to the index shares is made.

Reverse Stock Split. A reverse stock split is the action of a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock in decreasing its index shares and decreasing the par value in proportion. There is no flow of capital into or out of the company. The number of index shares in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® decreases but the market capitalization of the stock remains unchanged. The price of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is adjusted to reflect the ratio of the reverse stock split and a corresponding inverse adjustment to the index shares is made.

Special Cash Dividends. A dividend is considered “special” if the information provided by the listing exchange in their announcement of the ex-date indicates that the dividend is special. Other nomenclature for a special dividend may include, but is not limited to, “extra”, “extraordinary”, “non-recurring”, “one-time” and “unusual”. The price of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® is adjusted for the amount of the special cash dividend.

Cash and Stock Dividends. If a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is paying a cash and stock dividend on the same date, the cash dividend is applied before the stock dividend unless otherwise indicated in the information provided by the

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index exchange. Additionally, in the case of an optional dividend which allows the holder to choose between receiving cash or stock, the adjustment will be made in the manner in which the dividend has been announced by the index exchange. As described above, ordinary cash dividends are reinvested in the index on the ex-date.

Stock Distribution of Another Stock. If a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is distributing shares of a different stock, the value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock will be adjusted downward to reflect the ratio of the distribution. There is no adjustment to index shares. If the stock being distributed is another class of common shares of the same issuer, the value of the existing NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock will be adjusted downward to reflect the ratio of the distribution with no adjustment to index shares, and the new class of shares may be added to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® on a pro-rata basis.

Spin-offs. If a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is spinning off a stock, the value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock will be adjusted downward to reflect the ratio of the distribution. There is no adjustment to index shares. If a when-issued market is established for the spin-off company, the price of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is adjusted downward by the value of the spinoff. The value of the spin-off is determined by multiplying the spin-off ratio by the when-issued price. In the event the value of the spinoff has not been established as indicated above then no price adjustment is made to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock. The new stock resulting from the spin-off transaction is not added to the NASDAQ-100 Index^®.

Rights Offerings. The price of a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is adjusted on the ex-date for rights offerings if the rights are transferable and the offering has a subscription price on an equivalent per share basis that is less than the closing price of the underlying stock (the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock the right entitles a holder to purchase) on the day prior to the ex-date. The price of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is adjusted downward for the value of the right. The value of the right is equal to (1) (i) the previous last sale price of the underlying stock minus (ii) the sum of (a) the subscription price of the right plus (b) the cash dividend of the underlying stock, if any, divided by (2) the number of rights required to purchase one share plus one.

Corporate actions are implemented in the NASDAQ-100 Index^® in accordance with the NASDAQ-100 Index^® maintenance rules discussed above. The divisor will also be adjusted as a result of corporate actions that adjust either the price or shares of a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock. Nasdaq, Inc. will make announcements prior to the effective date of any corporate actions.

In the case of mergers and acquisitions, the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock issuer may be removed the day following the shareholder vote or the expected expiration of the tender offer, provided the acquisition is not contested. In the event the acquisition is contested, the removal of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock will occur as soon as reasonably practicable, once results have been received indicating that the acquisition will likely be successful.

If a company files for bankruptcy, the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock or stocks of the issuer will be removed from the NASDAQ-100 Index^® as soon as practicable thereafter. The value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock will be considered $0.00000001 if no other applicable price can be observed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market.

Discretionary Adjustments

In addition to the above, Nasdaq, Inc. may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure NASDAQ-100 Index^® integrity, including, but not limited to, changes to quantitative inclusion criteria. Nasdaq, Inc. may also, due to special circumstances, if deemed essential, apply discretionary adjustments to ensure and maintain the quality of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® construction and calculation.

Market Disruption Events

If a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock does not trade on its primary listing market on a given day or such index market has not opened for trading, the most recent last sale price from the index market (adjusted for corporate actions, if any) is used. If a NASDAQ-100 Index^® stock is halted from trading on its index market during the trading day, the most recent last sale price is used until trading resumes.

Corrections and Calculations

The closing value of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® may change up until 17:15:00 ET due to corrections to the last sale price of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® stocks. In the event that a change has been made to the NASDAQ-100 Index^® intraday, Nasdaq, Inc. will make an announcement describing such change. In the event a NASDAQ-100 Index^® calculation has been corrected retroactively, an announcement will be provided.

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License Agreement between Nasdaq, Inc. and GS Finance Corp.

The Product(s) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NASDAQ, Inc. or its affiliates (NASDAQ, with its affiliates, are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Product(s). The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the Product(s) or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Product(s) particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ-100^® Index to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to GS Finance Corp. (“Licensee”) is in the licensing of the Nasdaq^®, NASDAQ-100 Index^®, and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® which is determined, composed and calculated by NASDAQ without regard to Licensee or the Product(s). NASDAQ has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Product(s) into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the NASDAQ-100 Index^®. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Product(s) to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Product(s) is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Product(s).

The Corporations do not guarantee the accuracy and/or uninterrupted calculation of Nasdaq-100 Index^® or any data included therein. The Corporations make no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by Licensee, owners of the product(s), or any other person or entity from the use of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® or any data included therein. The Corporations make no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaim all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Nasdaq-100 Index^® or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Corporations have any liability for any lost profits or special, incidental, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

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Historical Closing Levels of the Underlier

The closing level of the underlier has fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level of the underlier during the period shown below is not an indication that the underlier is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the life of your notes.

You should not take the historical levels of the underlier as an indication of the future performance of the underlier. We cannot give you any assurance that the future performance of the underlier or the underlier stocks will result in your receiving an amount greater than the outstanding face amount of your notes on the stated maturity date.

Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the underlier. Before investing in the offered notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the levels of the underlier between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of your purchase of the offered notes. The actual performance of the underlier over the life of the offered notes, as well as the cash settlement amount, may bear little relation to the historical closing levels shown below.

The graph below shows the daily historical closing levels of the underlier from September 12, 2008 through September 12, 2018. We obtained the closing levels in the graph below from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification.

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SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

You will be obligated pursuant to the terms of the notes — in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary — to characterize each note for all tax purposes as a pre-paid derivative contract in respect of the underlier, as described under “Supplemental Discussion of Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page S-41 of the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738. Pursuant to this approach, it is the opinion of Sidley Austin LLP that upon the sale, exchange or maturity of your notes, it would be reasonable for you to recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash you receive at such time and your tax basis in your notes. Pursuant to Treasury regulations, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) withholding (as described in “United States Taxation—Taxation of Debt Securities—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding” in the accompanying prospectus) will generally apply to obligations that are issued on or after July 1, 2014; therefore, the notes will generally be subject to FATCA withholding. However, according to published guidance, the withholding tax described above will not apply to payments of gross proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the notes made before January 1, 2019.

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION; CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” on page S-49 of the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738 and “Plan of Distribution — Conflicts of Interest” on page 94 of the accompanying prospectus. GS Finance Corp. estimates that its share of the total offering expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $        .

GS Finance Corp. will sell to GS&Co., and GS&Co. will purchase from GS Finance Corp., the aggregate face amount of the offered notes specified on the front cover of this pricing supplement. GS&Co. proposes initially to offer the notes to the public at the original issue price set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement, and to certain securities dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of     % of the face amount. GS&Co. will pay a fee of     % from the concession to Axio Financial LLC in connection with its marketing efforts related to the offered notes. GS&Co. is an affiliate of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and, as such, will have a “conflict of interest” in this offering of notes within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering of notes will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. GS&Co. will not be permitted to sell notes in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.

We expect to deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on                     , 2018. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

We have been advised by GS&Co. that it intends to make a market in the notes. However, neither GS&Co. nor any of our other affiliates that makes a market is obligated to do so and any of them may stop doing so at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity or trading market for the notes.

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system.

PS-31

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,734, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,734, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is an offer to sell only the notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement no. 1,738, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,734, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is current only as of the respective dates of such documents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pricing Supplement

$            

GS Finance Corp.

Leveraged Buffered Invesco QQQ Trust^SM, Series 1-Linked Notes due

guaranteed by

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC